W TREK

CHILE

The W Trek is Patagonia distilled: five days tracing the most dramatic contours of Torres del Paine National Park. Granite towers pierce the sky, glaciers groan in distant valleys, and turquoise lakes glow beneath clouds that never quite settle. This version of the route trades heavy packs and crowded refugios for expert guiding, thoughtful pacing, and lodges that earn their place at the end of a hard day. Patagonia at its most elemental, done properly.

Note that everything you see here is an example of what your trip could look like. Your adventure will be tailored specifically to you.

WHEN TO GO

DURATION

NOV - MAR

5 NIGHTS

LANGUAGE

SPANISH

CURRENCY

CHILEAN PESO

ESTIMATED COST

$6,000

per person, excl. int'l flights

(based on two adults sharing)

Why this adventure

The W Trek has a well-earned reputation, but the experience changes completely depending on how you approach it. Walking without the weight of a full pack, with a guide who knows where the light hits the glacier and when to stop talking, is a different journey than the standard version. Patagonia has a way of demanding your full attention, and this itinerary is designed to make that possible: no logistics to manage, no noise to cut through. Each day goes deep into terrain that most people only see in photographs. Each evening brings you back to warmth and stillness. The wilderness stays wild. You just get to be present in it.

Journey flow

First steps carry you into a landscape shaped by wind and ice, skirting milky-blue lakes beneath the looming horns of Cuernos del Paine. The path bends toward Grey Glacier, its fractured face glowing against dark rock, its scale registering slowly as you approach along the lakeshore. Forested valleys open to wide alpine meadows where condors ride the thermals overhead. The ascent to the base of the Torres arrives in early light, granite spires rising sheer from a glacial lagoon, their reflection trembling in the cold air. Each day builds to something, then softens into evenings of warm meals, shared stories, and the particular quiet that comes after a day spent entirely outdoors.

Take it farther

For those who want more from the park, the options are worth knowing about. Ice hiking on Grey Glacier with technical gear turns an impressive view into a hands-on encounter with the ice field itself. Private guiding throughout the trek allows for flexible pacing and the kind of depth that group dynamics rarely permit. And for those with time to extend beyond Patagonia, a guided visit to Perito Moreno Glacier across the Argentine border pairs naturally with the Torres and rounds out one of South America's great wilderness itineraries.

Customize this itinerary

Every trip we design is built around you: your pace, your curiosity, your definition of a good day. No set departures, no group tours, no one-size-fits-all anything. If this itinerary sparks something in you, let's talk about what that could look like for you specifically.

START YOUR JOURNEY

Adventure highlights

ELEVATED TREKKING EXPERIENCE

Light packs, expert guides, luggage transfers between lodges, and evenings that restore rather than merely accommodate. The wilderness stays demanding. Everything else is handled.

FRENCH VALLEY PANORAMA

A natural amphitheater of hanging glaciers and jagged peaks that opens gradually as the trail climbs. One of the most dramatic viewpoints on the continent, and typically shared with very few people.

GREY GLACIER APPROACH

The walk along Lago Grey brings the Southern Patagonian Ice Field into focus slowly, the glacier's fractured blue face emerging from the rock as you close the distance. A scale of ice that is difficult to comprehend until you're standing in front of it.

BASE OF THE TORRES

An early ascent to the glacial lagoon at the foot of the towers, where first light catches the granite faces in gold and rose. The most celebrated viewpoint in Patagonia, and one that earns the effort required to reach it.

How it unfolds

DAYS 1-2

GREY GLACIER & THE WESTERN ARM

The trek opens along the shores of Lago Grey, where sculpted ice drifts in from the Southern Patagonian Ice Field. The glacier's face comes into view gradually, its blue deepening as you draw closer. This is Patagonia at its most austere and most beautiful.

DAYS 3-4

FRENCH VALLEY

The trail climbs into a natural amphitheater ringed by hanging glaciers and jagged peaks. Condors are common here. The scale of the valley silences most conversation. The descent back through lenga forest gives the day a different texture from the ascent.

DAY 5

BASE OF THE TORRES

An early start earns the best light. The path to the towers is the most demanding of the route, ending at a glacial lagoon where the granite spires rise directly from the water. Most people stand there longer than they planned. The return is an easier thing, knowing you've reached the point the whole journey was building toward.

Where you could stay

ECOCAMP PATAGONIA

Geodesic domes tucked into the landscape offer a sustainable yet comfortable stay. Warm communal spaces and locally inspired cuisine foster camaraderie among fellow trekkers.

HOTEL LAS TORRES PATAGONIA

Family-owned and ideally positioned at the base of the Torres trail, this estancia-style lodge blends rustic charm with genuine Patagonian hospitality.

EXPLORA TORRES DEL PAINE

Set within Torres del Paine National Park, Explora offers a refined base amid soaring granite peaks and glacial lakes. Thoughtfully designed rooms, chef-driven cuisine, and expertly guided explorations make it one of Patagonia’s most immersive luxury lodges.

Ready to start planning?

All Peregrine trips include:

Every trip we design starts from scratch, built around how you travel and what you're actually after. No fixed routes, no shared departures, no compromises. If something on this page resonated, that's a good place to start a conversation.